- Contact the Committee

Mr. Chairman and distinguished Members of the Committee: 

A year ago the Non Commissioned Officers Association of the USA (NCOA) was most grateful that in the immediate aftermath of the Terrorist Attack on America that the Committee of Veterans Affairs held a hearing focused on homeless veterans.  That hearing stood as a shining beacon telling the world that the legislative processes of the United States Government for the people of the United States were in tact following the catastrophic events of 9/11.  A year and a day later we gather again focused on the status of programs that were designed to break the vicious cycle of chronic homelessness of veterans. 

NCOA is appreciative of the opportunity to share its perspective and concerns on the implementation of two Public Laws that were crafted to establish special authorities to reduce the number of homeless veterans. 

The Association would also point out that the vast number of homeless veterans were former enlisted members of the Uniformed Services of the United States.  This association’s membership is exclusive in its representation of enlisted personnel of Active, Reserve, and Guard Service Components, the USCG, military retirees and veterans.  As such, the majority of homeless veterans on the streets of America are without doubt our former comrades in the profession of arms. 

NCOA is strongly committed to this issue and recognizes that today’s homeless veterans are not only former comrades-in-arms from years gone past, but has begun to include enlisted personnel who but short years ago were serving proudly in the Armed Forces.   We’re ever mindful that today’s homeless veterans are those same disciplined warriors that this Nation hailed as the best educated, motivated and trained military force in the world. 

Mister Chairman and distinguished Members of the Committee, The Non Commissioned Officers Association of the United States of America (NCOA) is most pleased to have the opportunity to testify at this oversight hearing on Public Laws 105-368 and 107-95 both of which were established as bridges to provide the movement of homeless veterans from the streets of the nation to productivity and an enhanced life style. 

BACKGROUND 

The Association notes that over the recent years that there has been a number of significant changes that impact the historical philosophy of VA by fundamental shifts in its health care delivery, evolution of the veteran population served, and health care and prescription drug cost in providing services.   These factors, summarized below, directly or indirectly may delay the implementation of any program directed by public law such as those which are the subject of today’s hearing. 

• Transitioning Veterans Health Care to an outpatient delivery system was necessary to deliver efficient state of the art ambulatory health care while concurrently dramatically reducing the cost associated with unnecessary hospitalization.

• Limiting, and continuing to limit, the capacity of inpatient mental health and substance abuse beds.

• Establishment of a Health Care Enrollment Category 7, which provides access of non-service, connected veterans to a VA Health Care Network that serves all veterans.

VA did not secure subvention funding for VA to bill Medicare eligible veterans for delivered health care. 

• Community Based Outpatient Clinics were established to deliver health services to dense veteran populated areas.

• Health Care Enrollment of large numbers of non-service connected veterans, a population which is expected to represent nearly 35 percent in 2003 delays access of service disabled veterans to health care and substantially impacts VA ‘s budget resources which jeopardizes new program initiatives.

• Access to health care is delayed for service connected veterans and other special category veterans, including homeless veterans, for whom the Veterans Heath Care Administration was originally chartered to serve.

• Implementation of any new VA service initiative (health care, benefits, and cemetery) has required a considerable investment in planning, logistical coordination, and resource dollars to implement worldwide.

• Also significant is the bureaucracy’s attitude and reluctance to accept a recommendation of a new initiative.

The limited factors described above translate to years of endeavor to implement a new program initiative be it in benefits delivery, health care, service to homeless veterans, or memorial affairs.  The process is oftentimes further stymied by “authorization” of a program without the corresponding fiscal appropriation or personnel authorizations to implement the new program.  Authorization without the necessary fiscal appropriation dictate that new programs compete for limited program dollars which may result in the termination of established programs, inadequate funds for all programs, and possibly limited implementation of all programs that result in end of year fiscal shortfalls.  The newly authorized programs could also end up below the cut line in priorities and be deferred pending necessary resources. 

Public Law 105-368

Transitional Housing Pilot Program 

Enacted Veterans Day 1998, the Department of Veterans Affairs is authorized to guarantee 15 loans to provide multifamily transitional housing projects for homeless veterans and other homeless people.  To date the VA continues to develop criteria and guidelines for the management of this program.  The VA loan guaranty program previously had no experience, or history in facilitating multifamily transitional housing, procurement, or other development concerns as would be related to homeless people. 

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs reported in March 2001 to your Committee that considerable time and effort has been devoted by VA over the years to resolve funding levels associated with acquisition, to secure consulting and technical services to ensure the administrative criteria and process would result in the effective utilization of the $100 Million authorized for this program. 

NCOA urges VA to establish the authorized three (3) pilot programs for homeless transitional housing as soon as possible.  Transitional housing bed spaces are critical to provide the controlled environment to ensure that formerly homeless veterans being discharged from inpatient VA care programs and Domiciliaries have a safe and controlled place to complete reintegration into the community and workforce.   It is essential that planning be complete to provide necessary supportive services as well as the transitional housing opportunity through this grant program but should not be further delayed to study the program endlessly. 

Recommendation(s): 

Establish the first “Transitional Housing Pilot for Homeless People” as authorized in the law early in 2003.  Monitor the project and program using the experience and lessons learned to continue the award for the development of additional housing projects at strategic locations to help end chronic homelessness. 

Future consideration to cooperatively manage the Transitional Housing Project by both the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Housing and Urban Development.  HUD has considerable housing experience in multifamily projects and could facilitate the acquisition of such projects.  The law envisioned some utilization of the facility by other than formerly homeless veterans which would appear to make HUD involvement appropriate.

PUBLIC LAW 107-95

The Comprehensive Veterans Homeless Assistance Act of 2001 

NCOA, other major veteran organizations, and homeless advocates worked collaboratively to secure P.L. 107-95 designed to end chronic veteran homelessness in a decade.   The Association maintains its complete endorsement of the provisions and program authorizations contained in this law and acknowledges the earnest commitment of this Committee to secure passage. 

·        The authorization process was complete in 2001.

·        Regrettably, the Appropriations Committees did not secure the fiscal resources to fund the approved authorizations.

·        Funding must compete with other programs in the VA Budget.

NCOA strongly believes that VA is under-funded to sustain its existing program despite apparent annual budget increases.   As noted, VHA Health Care Priority Category 7 for non-service connected veterans has grown so significantly that the cost of health care including pharmaceuticals impacts the care for service disabled and special emphasis programs including homelessness.  The impact can best be equated to delayed access for appointments at primary and specialty clinics.  The problem of access and health care is further complicated for homeless veterans with substance abuse, mental health problems, or dual diagnosed with both conditions. 

NCOA recognizes that PL107-95 provides a comprehensive continuum of care and services taking the veteran from the street back to an independent self-sufficient life style. 

VA is now working the implementation concept for the comprehensive homeless veterans act.  It is too early to assess the implementation of the initiatives required by the law.  It can be stated that every program and initiative described in the Law is a spoke forming cogs that inter-relate with other elements of the program.  At this early stage, lacking adequate fiscal resources it appears that the spokes are too short for the part they play to make each segment of the program go forward and interact with the other components to form the continuum or range of services required to end homelessness.  Simply stated: 

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING 

·        There is not enough transitional Housing across the Nation to serve an estimated homeless veteran population in excess of 265,000 on any night of the year.

·        The Homeless providers Grant and Per Diem Program is authorized at levels that VA may not have fully utilized in past fiscal years.  Programmed increase in per diem rate may in fact negate growth in the per diem program.

·        Congress has authorized homeless Domiciliaries whose value seems questionable by the VA and whose development should be monitored.

·        Noted already has been the need for the bed spaces that could be made available by project awards under the Veterans’ Transitional Housing Opportunity Act of 1998 and remains under policy development.

HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION PROGRAM

The Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) is another key program in the continuum of care for homeless veterans that remain under-utilized. 

The key to ending homelessness is employment.  HVRP provides those programs for veterans to prepare for access and gain employment.  Authorized at $50 Million a year from FY 02 through 05, DOL has not requested full fiscal year funding in FY02 to implement this program across the Nation. 

DENTAL CARE 

Homeless Veterans were authorized dental care by VA as a new program initiative in the law.  This program needs an infusion of money to become a reality.  VA must secure and dedicate the fiscal resource for this program to begin. 

Currently, veterans rated 100 percent are entitled to dental care.  Those rated with a temporary 100 percent rating are also entitled to dental care that few ever receive. 

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 

VA is authorized to contract out competitive grants not to exceed $750,000 to provide technical assistance to community based groups applying for grants under the Grant and Per Diem Program.   Community based providers need the assistance of experts to develop the competency to compete in this VA Grant Program.  Recommend VA make this funding available in FY03 and consider the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, the national advocate for homelessness, as the sole source organization to provide technical assistance to community based organizations. 

CONCLUSION 

Mr. Chairman, and Members of the Committee it has been a privilege to voice the perspective of NCOA at this oversight hearing.  I would emphasize that: 

·        Its past time to award the pilot grants to establish Veterans Transitional Housing Projects under PL 105-358.

·        Not enough time has elapsed to evaluate the implementation of the Homeless Veteran Assistance Act of 2001.  A number of the new initiatives, including dental care and inpatient substance abuse and mental health programs will require additional fiscal resources before they become a reality.

·        The issue on an agency not fully utilizing the budget resources for programs in the continuum of care or services for homeless veterans should be a concern and further evaluated. 

Again, thanks for the opportunity to share this perspective.

BIOGRAPHY 

Of 

Richard C. Schneider

Director of State/Veterans Affairs 

Mr. Schneider is the National Director of State/Veterans Affairs, Non Commissioned Officers Association of the United States of America.  His responsibilities include executive management of all NCOA programs that support America's veterans.  These include service transition, employment, benefit rights and adjudication processes.  He directs 473 NCOA Veteran Service Officers located in the United States and overseas.  Additionally, he provides legislative focus for 46 NCOA State Legislative Coordinators, which represent NCOA in State Legislative Affairs.  Mr. Schneider concurrently serves as the Executive Director of the NCOA National Defense Foundation.  In this capacity, he is responsible for the Association's Voter Registration Program including the operation of the National Voter Registration and Information Center in cooperation with the Department of Defense.  He also manages the Foundation’s Operation Appreciation program, which provides grants to benefit hospitalized veterans and other association determined humanitarian outreaches. 

Mr. Schneider was born in New Jersey.  He was raised in the Garden State attending elementary and secondary schools in Lyndhurst.  He has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern Colorado (1972) and a Master of Arts from the University of Northern Colorado (1974). 

He served in the United States Air Force from August 1957 to September 1990.  Mr. Schneider retired in the grade of Chief Master Sergeant.  He held significant assignments in management and personnel planning throughout his military career.  His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters. 

He is currently the Secretary, Board of Directors, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, Alexandria, VA.  He also is currently the Chairman of the Board, Financial Technologies, Inc., Chantilly, VA. 

Mr. Schneider is married to the former Anne Ferguson of Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland.  They have four children: three daughters, Kristin, Leslie, and Fiona; and a son, Richard.